The First Retreat: How It All Began

In May 2024, Belinda and Andrew Donner met Shai Gino, an Israeli veteran living in San Diego who was struggling with PTSD after returning to fight following October 7th. Shai told them about the Golani Battalion’s 13th Brigade — one of the hardest-hit units that day. Out of 15 soldiers in one group, 9 had been killed. The survivors were struggling.

By June, enough funds had been raised to bring soldiers, a therapist, a commanding officer, and a logistics coordinator to San Diego from Israel. The soldiers arrived late at night on June 13th — most had never been on an airplane before.

Over ten days, the retreat combined daily therapy sessions led by a certified Israeli psychologist, yoga on the beach, breathwork, boating, home-cooked Shabbat dinners, and the warmth of a volunteer community that opened their homes and hearts. The therapist noted a remarkable transformation in the soldiers, who had initially arrived fearing they would be hated because of the anti-Israel sentiment they had seen in the media.